Missing Lesbians - Blog

Pink Paper newspaper closes

2009-06-24T22:49:00.001+01:00

The only national gay newspaper is victim of recession

London - 24 June 2009

"The loss of the Pink Paper is a big blow to the lesbian and gay community," said gay human rights campaigner, Peter Tatchell.

""We have lost a major source of news and information. It was an invaluable forum for debate and helped us coordinate campaigns against homophobia.

"Although the online version will remain, it is no substitute for the fortnightly paper, which reached many people who are either not online or who enjoyed the portability of the printed version.

"Without the Pink Paper, the lesbian and gay community is likely to become more fragmented and isolated, with people in one part of the country being much less aware about what is happening in other parts of the country," said Mr Tatchell.

News statement by Tris Reid-Smith, Editor of the Pink Paper

Pink Paper is being forced to suspend printing its newspaper after this week's issue, due to the economic downturn.

Instead the Pink Paper will continue online at PinkPaper.com and through its weekly newsletter, Pink Paper Xtra, delivered straight into your email inbox.

The publishers hope to start printing the newspaper again when the economy recovers and the advertising market improves.

As a free newspaper, Pink Paper relies almost entirely on advertising income. This time last year it was a very successful business but since then organisations have slashed their spend on print advertising, meaning the paper has been unable to cover its costs.

Read on:

http://news.pinkpaper.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=1077

Pianist wanted by "Sing Out Bristol" Choir

2009-06-17T18:08:00.001+01:00

Are you musical?
Can you play the piano?

Sing Out Bristol is looking for a pianist to support their musical director teach and accompany songs with this thriving, lively choir.

Our website is www.singoutbristol.com, and anyone who would like more information can contact ronan.deburca(at)ireland.com or by phone at 07918 701 139.

We meet for rehearsals every Tuesday evening at 7.30pm in the Bedminster area, and do a wide range of music (from pop to classical to gospel to African chants).

Hate Crime Strategy

2009-06-06T23:27:00.004+01:00

The new Hate Crime Strategy 2009-14 is out for consultation- It is live via Consultation Finder:

http://www.opinionsuite.com/bristol/departments/safer-bristol-partnership/hate-crime-strategy-2009-14/consultation/consult_view

There is also a spotlight On to the Safer Bristol homepage www.saferbristol.org.uk .

Comments are appreciated to help find ways to make the city safer and to ensure the well-being of communities.

Hate Crime Projects Officer
Safer Bristol Partnership
Princess House
Princess Street, Bedminster
Bristol BS3 4AG

TEL: 0117 914 2218

mobs.timi-biu(at)bristol.gov.uk

STOP HATE CRIME

Don't suffer in silence: you can help us make a difference.

If you have been bullied, harassed or attacked because of your race or ethnicity;your disability; what you believe; your sexuality; what you wear; or your background.

Find out more, and report online using the link below: www.bristol.gov.uk/hatecrime "

BBC looking for same sex couples with children for new series

2009-05-17T20:19:00.002+01:00

The BBC have just begun production on a series for BBC Two all about the British family. It is a four-part social history series in which each episode will look at a different theme, covering Marriage, Sex, Work and Money, and Childhood. Each episode will also move on in time, so the series will start just after the war and end in the present day. The fourth episode will therefore look at children within the family in the last 15 years or so. The series is being presented by Kirsty Young, presenter of Desert Island Discs, who will travel around the country meeting both families with particular stories to tell as well as academics and professionals, with a view to building up a comprehensive picture of the changes the British family has gone through in the last 60 years.

As same sex couples are now part and parcel of everyday family life in Britain, we are keen to find a family to illustrate this, and I wondered whether you might be able to help. As the series is social history rather than current affairs, it's better for us if the parents aren't new parents, so perhaps they were bringing their children up in the late 90s/early 00s. Ideally we would speak to both parents and children (who may now be in their late teens/early 20s) about the experience of being/having gay parents, but we would also want to involve them in the rest of the programme on other issues that we will be speaking to all our families about. It's more about drawing out the common experiences of families which on the face of it might appear different.

If you are interested, contact Jennifer on Jennifer.Forde(at)bbc.co.uk
(replace (at) with @)

Midsummer solstice celebration - Dorset

2009-03-12T10:16:00.001Z

Sat June 20th - Sun 21st June - Swalk 09 - The Electric Palace, Bridport, Dorset
Out of our area, but within reach. Midsummer solstice celebration of music, art, poetry and literature. A moderately priced weekend of delights - for women only! An indulgence - a tiptoe through the arts - a celebration of the richdiversity of womanhood to be experienced through workshops - art, vocal,poetry and performances - comedy, poetry, music, dance, drumming, film and talks. More info

Exhibition of Photography - March - Bedminster

2009-02-16T15:44:00.000Z

Details on the Bristol page

Reclaim the Night - Singers and Percussionists wanted

2009-02-09T23:43:00.002Z

SINGERS AND PERCUSSIONISTS NEEDED FOR THE RECLAIM THE NIGHT MARCH
COME AND PRACTICE SOME SIMPLE SONGS FOR THE MARCH

Wed 11th Feb at the Central Fire Station Temple Back 7-9pm

Reclaim the Night Friday 20th Feb. Join us to reclaim Bristol's streets in an evening of actions led by women.
6pm - Candle lit vigil at College Green.
7pm - March begins from College Green.
8pm - March reaches Trinity for stalls & speeches
9.30 - Drinks, music and dancing until midnight at Trinity.

More info at http://www.bristolfeministnetwork.com/reclaim-the-night.html

Queer Spaces Metting - Queer Cafe

2009-02-09T23:13:00.000Z

Queer Spaces Meeting
Thurs 12th Feb
7pm @ Art Warehouse Space
9 Bath Buildings,
Montpelier

The end of 2008 saw the launch of the Bristol Queer Cafe, a space aiming to be a self organised, DIY, radical alternative to the commercial gay meat market. We've seen three successful cafe nights at the Kebele Social Centre, watched some great films and met some awesome people.

Rather than just having people running the cafe and everyone comes being consumers, everyone can get involved in running th space, whether that is choosing a film, designing flyers, setting up or serving on the night. we plan to have a different "event" at each cafe, the first three have been films, the next one will be crafts, but we don't have anything planned for future cafes. so there will be discussion about future themes, as well as the nuts & bolts of it, the organisation & stuff. There has also been a proposal to move the cafe to another venue, so we need to have a chat about that too.

We will also be talking about the other aspect of the cafe, a wider project to create radical queer spaces in bristol. We already have a few events in the pipeline including A National Gathering on Race, Privilege and Identity in Radical Queer/Feminist Communities (April), sex toys workshops, a weekend of queer gigs & workshops in the autumn, and a queer reading/book group. We'll also have time to discuss any new ideas.

Vagina Monologues

2009-02-09T23:07:00.001Z

13th Febuary Circomedia, Portland Square, Bristol - 7.30 - £8/£6
14th and 15th Febuary Bristol Old Vic -7.30 - £10

Tickets for both venues can be booked via
Bristol Old Vic Box Office.

V-Day Bristol is Proud to Present,
A benefit production of Eve Ensler's 'The Vagina Monologues'

Hailed by The Independent as 'Laugh-out-loud funny and deeply poignant' and by the Evening Standard as 'A wittily honest investigation about how women feel about their sexuality'. The Vagina Monologues dives into the mystery, humor, pain, power, wisdom, outrage and excitement buried in women’s experiences.
Ticket are selling out fast

Having played to sold out venues across Bristol last year, V-Day returns in 2009 to bring the Vagina Monologues back to Circomedia, and to make its debut at Bristol Old Vic. Performed by a group of women from across Bristol these performances will be raising money for
Survive and One25. 100% of ticket sales go to charity.

What is V Day?
V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and children. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stopviolence against women, including rape, domestic abuse, female genital mutilation and sexual slavery. Last year over 1150 communities in 119 countries hosted V-Day benefits raising funds and awareness towards ending violence against women. Bristol joined this global movement last year and the group is going from strength to strength. All proceeds from performances will go towards the vital work that Survive
and One25 does across the Bristol area.

For more information on Survive visit www.survivedv.org.uk
For more information on One25 visit www.one25ltd.co.uk/links/index.html
To learn more about V Day and its campaigns visit www.vday.org.

Tickets can be booked through the Box Office on 0117 987 7877, or, if
you have any enquiries, please email tickets(at)bristol-old-vic.co.uk.

'Politics of Exclusion' - A film workshop in support of LGBT History Month

2009-02-04T18:04:00.000Z

There are still places on the following free event on Mon Feb 9th :

The following is an LGBT History month event being put on by Bristol City Council.
Numbers are limited, so if you would like to attend please contact Asif Khan as soon as you can:

'Politics of Exclusion' - A film workshop in support of LGBT History Month
Date: Monday, February 9 2009
Time: 17.30 to 19.00

Venue: Bedminster Library Conference Room. Free parking available for up to three hours at ASDA car park nearby.

Elspeth Kydd, senior lecturer in film studies at University of the West of England, will present a workshop on the video 'Lick Bush in '92' (1993).The documentary follows the LGBT-rights activist Joan Jett Blakk's "camp-pain" for the presidency of the USA.

The workshop will cover:
- The role of video in supporting LGBT-civil rights activism
- A comparison between UK and US cultural and legal LGBT-rights campaigns
- Moving towards the politics of inclusion

Attendees: The capacity of the event is 15 people. For people aged 16 years and over.

Cost: Free for attendees

To register please email Asif Khan at Bristol Libraries with your contact phone number: asif.khan(at)bristol.gov.uk
or phone 0117 9037218

LGB Mythbusting Booklet

2009-01-16T19:48:00.001Z

Wednesday 25 February 2008 Council House, College Green
6.30pm - 8.30pm

In celebration of LGBT History Month Bristol City Council
Invites you to the launch of its LGB Mythbusting Booklet

As a part of its celebration of LGBT history month and of its commitment
to the promotion of equality, the Council is pleased to announce
the addition of the above title to its mythbusting series

Ali Jarvis - Equality Consultant - will be speaking on:

"LGB equality - building in not bolting on"

To be followed by a discussion chaired by Cllr Peter Hammond, deputy leader of the Council and the Executive Lead on Equality. Gillian Douglas, Equalities and Community Cohesion Manager and other members of her team will also be present.

The Council House is fully accessible. If you need help with childcare or have access needs please let us know as soon as possible. We will provide refreshments and a light buffet.

For further information and to let us know you are planning to attend:

Email : jo.mcdonald(at)bristol.gov.uk
Post : Jo McDonald, Bristol City Council, Room U16, The Council House,
College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR
Phone : 0117 922 2662

You will be able to just turn up on the night but it would be helpful to us if you let us know if you are planning to attend.

The booklet was written by Ali Jarvis in consultation with community stakeholders and council officers.
Funded by Bristol City Council

13th December - Wonky Xmas Party

2008-12-10T18:54:00.000Z

Liberty - New Years Eve

2008-12-09T18:16:00.004Z

Weds 31st December - Liberty presents - women only night @ Toto's Bar, 125 Redcliffe Street, Bristol BS1 6HU. 9pm - 2am
Strictly Ticket Only Event. Pre - Purchased tickets only £10.00, £9.50 Concessions. A belesque performance by Venus Noir will be taking place after the New Year count down.
Available from www.bristolticketshop.co.uk tel 0117-9299008
Or contact liberty.bristol(at)live.co.uk. 10 % to Freedom Youth
Website

Wonky - Tonight! - Fri 28th November

2008-11-28T16:17:00.000Z

Tonight is Wonky's 5th Birthday.............!!
@ the warehouse, prince street
£5/6

With Bernie and James plus Monkey!knife!fight! Team Moustache, Lipstick on Your Collar and Tight Fit.....

www.clubwonky.com

xxx

And on Saturday 13th December is the Wonky & Push Christmas Party @ Motion!
Tickets availbale now for £6adv :: www.bristolticketshop.co.uk
Or £8/9 on the door

Lady Lucy presents Ladies, All The Ladies - Sat 29 November

2008-11-28T16:14:00.001Z

Not a lesbian event, but something that might be of interest.....

Lady Lucy presents Ladies, All The Ladies
Saturday 29 November 2008

As a visual artist Lucy Woollett has chosen ‘Lady Lucy’ as an alter ego to work under. In urban music circles this use of the word ‘Lady’ is a re-occurring theme and Ladies, All The Ladies is the result of Lady Lucy’s self-imposed search to meet other ‘Ladies’.

Lady Lucy’s film and events produce an inspiring portrait of women MCs, DJs, producers and performers involved in Urban music; Hip Hop, Drum and Bass, Garage, Reggae, Dance Hall, R and B, House and Grime from Bristol, UK and internationally, all of whom use the prefix ‘Lady’.

Featuring Diss Miss (Dutty Girl, Girl Wonder), Laydee Bird, Lady Free, Lady K & Lady Maximum, Lady Paradox, Lady Raz

2pm
Ladies, All the Ladies
panel discussion
Lady Lucy in conversation with some of the ladies who participated in the film chaired by Bridget Crone, Director Media Art Bath.
Picture This, Mardyke Ferry Road, Bristol, BS1 6UU
Admission Free

8pm - midnight
Ladies, All the Ladies
club night
Picture This hosts a night of music from female DJ’s featured in Lady Lucy’ film, Ladies, All the Ladies including Lady Free (drum ‘n bass), Lady K and Lady Maximum (the UK’s only mother and daughter DJ/MC duo), Laydee Bird and Dutty Girl.
Picture This, Mardyke Ferry Road, Bristol, BS1 6UU
Admission £5/£3 conc on the door

Ladies, All The Ladies is available as a limited edition DVD published by Picture This.

Ladies, All The Ladies was supported by Picture This’ Small Wonders development scheme, funded by The Esmee Fairbairn Foundation; and received funding from Arts Council England Grants for Arts. Live events in partnership with Invada Records

www.myspace.com/a_project_by_ladylucy
www.picture-this.org.uk/current/LadyLucy

Lea DeLaria - Thursday 4 December 8pm

2008-11-17T23:13:00.002Z

Details on the Bristol listings page

Support for LGB Parents

2008-11-16T21:38:00.002Z

From Bristol Lesbian, Gay and Bi-sexual Forum:

We have just identified a fund that we can apply to for funding for vital work in LGB Parenting needs in Bristol. This would compliment, at the ground level, the work that we are already doing in our "Challenging Homophobia : Supporting Equality in Schools" campaign.

A number of parents have raised issues directly and indirectly with us concerning :
Coping with homophobia directed at their families
Coping with homophobia directed at their children
Protecting families and children
Coping with homophobia in schools

We have so far identified:
That members and non-members need support
The need for advice, training and information

Over the next 3 weeks I will be working with Laura Welti our Funding Application expert to put forward a bid for the funding and develop a work strategy for this two year funding.
We would very much like to hear from all LGB parents and families that would like to share their needs and problems with us, to inform our bid, strategy and workplan. This can be done anonymously if you prefer.
We would also like to hear from any LGB parents that would like to be on a steering group to guide the work if we are successful.

Please email me at the address below and pass this on to anyone you think would be interested.

Thank you for your help and support.

Sarah-Louise Minter
Development Worker (Wed and Thurs)
Bristol Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Forum
The Create Centre, Smeaton Road, Bristol BS1 6XN
sarah(at)bristol-lgb-forum.org.uk
0117 352 5633

"Queer" Cafe launch - Thurs 27th Nov

2008-11-16T21:37:00.000Z

Luck Lady Club - Weds 26th Nov

2008-11-16T21:34:00.001Z

Stop Hate Crime in Bristol

2008-11-05T17:45:00.000Z

Bath Sexual Orientation Scheme Consultation

2008-11-04T15:20:00.002Z

Consultation Documents

Bath & North East Council has recently commissioned a consultation with the lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) communities in Bath & North East Somerset. The aim of the consultation is to identify the issues which local LGB people face - these issues will then inform the development of the Council's first Sexual Orientation Equality Scheme. The Scheme will be designed to address discrimination and ensure equality in the Council as a service provider and an employer.

As part of the consultation a confidential discussion group will be taking place to explore the views and experiences of local LGB people. The discussion will be taking place on Wednesday 12^th November from 6:30- 8:30pm, in Bath.

We're looking for up to 10 participants, who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual and who live, work, study or socialise in the Bath & North East Somerset area.

The discussion will be completely confidential (attendees' names will not be passed back to the Council). It will be facilitated by Katherine Cowan, an independent researcher who is carrying out this work for the Council. You may remember Katherine from when she spoke at our LGBT History Month media event in February.

If you would like to attend, or if you would like more information, please contact Katherine directly: mailto:katherine@katherinecowan.net or by telephone 07949 777731.

Sociability

2008-11-01T19:04:00.001Z

Sociability is a fairly new online discussion network for women to arrange civilised social activities, organise transport sharing to events, and general sharing of information in Bristol and thereabouts. Activities so far have included cinema visits, dining out, the prospect of an allotment group emerging, and really anything at all that people feel inclined to suggest. If you'd like to join the network, please send you email address to Debra - badasst(at)gmail.com

Getting Listed!

2008-09-22T23:58:00.003+01:00

Girls, please help me out here! I do try and get your listings up as soon as possible and keep them accurate. Surprisingly, despite often being away for days at a time I do normally manage to do this....

If you'd like your event or group listed, please, please, please send me something I can cut and paste into the site. That way it's quick to do and hard for me to get wrong! If I have pick out the important details from your email, go to your website, or google venues to find out all your details then things take much longer....

Sending in listings a good while before the event is helpful too. I'm sure those women new to the scene in Bristol will thank you for making the information available.

Oh, and one last moan. If you have been running something and it closes, let me know so that I can remove the listing. I hate out of date websites and I don't want this to become one.

This isn't really a moan, but the more you help, the more useful the site will be.

Many thanks

Mary :-)

Fathers 4 Justice protestors confronted over 'homophobic' banner

2008-09-22T13:44:00.000+01:00

text and images from 24dash.com

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Communities
Friday 19th September 2008 - 3:44pm

Fathers 4 Justice protestors confronted over 'homophobic' banner

A man who fathered a child for a lesbian couple angrily confronted a group of Fathers 4 Justice protesters today as they demonstrated with a banner against "Lesbo Dads".

The break-away New Fathers 4 Justice group held their first protest march in a quiet residential street in Bristol, outside the constituency office for Health Minister Dawn Primarolo.

Last week F4J was closed down by its founder Matt O'Connor, but days later, the New F4J was set up by Nigel Ace and Mark Harris, who made a rooftop protest on the house of Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman in June.

But their first stunt under "new management" has attracted criticism for being homophobic.

Dressed in their usual superhero attire, the members shouted slogans and played a loud siren while carrying a 10 foot banner which read "Kids need real Dads not Dawn's Lesbo Dads".

Unfortunately for the 10-strong group, Mrs Primarolo had left her office in Chessel Street 20 minutes earlier.

They claim Mrs Primarolo's backing for the Human Embryology and IVF bill signalled a dismissal of the need for a male role model in a family by making it easier for single females or lesbian couples to use sperm donors.

The disturbance attracted residents out of their houses, several of which angrily confronted the group.

One man, who did not want to be named, questioned the F4J's attitude and revealed he had been a sperm donor for two lesbian friends whose baby was born six months ago.

He told the protesters he was "very proud to have facilitated two mothers to have a child".

After the demonstration he said: "By coincidence I was watching a re-run of the debate over the embryology bill on the parliamentary channel when I heard the shouting and the siren outside, it was a surreal moment.

"I came out to confront them because of what I saw as blatant homophobia.

"I don't think they have intentionally come out to rile against homosexual rights or feminism but they are not doing themselves any favours.

"The core of what they want is equality and that is what feminism and homosexual rights is about.

"F4J make a very broad statement that a child needs a man and a woman but the gender of the parents is irrelevant, it is the person bringing up the child."

He said he does not view himself as a father but more of an uncle to the baby.

"I believe strongly that people in a homosexual relationship should be able to have a family and I wanted to help that to become a reality for my two close friends who I have known for a long time.

"I felt that they would be really good parents with strong morals and that has nothing to do with their gender.

"It is my choice to take a back seat, they say they want me to be involved as much as I want to be."

When the Embryology Bill was debated in May, Ms Primarolo, in response to shadow health minister's Mark Simmonds demand for "male role models", said "that would create an additional hurdle" for lesbian couples and single women.

Nigel Ace, 40, from Clevedon, near Bristol, who fronted today's demonstration and recently won a two-and-a-half year custody battle to see his five-year-old daughter, said: "This stance by the health minister flies in the face of good, proper and traditional foundations of raising children.

"We want them to focus on getting real dads in the family, not artificial ones.

"Just because one man closes the organisation does not mean that the cause has finished, we will only shut down when we have what we want which is equal rights for fathers.

"We have nothing against lesbians or gay people but we should not put them before fathers in our society and in my view they should not have children because children need a balance and if they are brought up with two dads or two mums what sort of challenges do they face in society?"

Fathers 4 Justice target minister with "lesbo dads" banner

2008-09-22T13:35:00.001+01:00

text taken from Pink News http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-9056.html#

By Tony Grew • September 19, 2008 - 18:07

Gay rights organisation Stonewall has branded the latest stunt from protesters Fathers 4 Justice as "obvious homophobia."

The group's original founder Matt O'Connor disbanded the group last week but disaffected "father's campaigners" staged a protest in Bristol today calling themselves "New Fathers 4 Justice."

The constituency office of junior health minister Dawn Primarolo was their target, and the banner they carried, "KIDS NEED REAL DADS NOT DAWN'S LESBO DADS," is the cause of the controversy.

Stonewall chief executive Ben Summerskill said:

"It is deeply sad that in trying to put across a point of view Fathers 4 Justice have descended into obvious homophiobia.

"Many thousands of lesbian couples bring up their childen together, something which sadly many members of Fathers 4 Justice do not."

Ms Primarolo, the MP for Bristol South since 1987, has been a vocal supporter of gay equality, including the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

Earlier this year Tory MPs tried to push through an amendment to the legislation that would have retained a requirement on doctors to consider the need for a father when assessing women for IVF treatment.

The government argued that the consideration has been used to disciminate against lesbians and single women, and they defeated the amendment.

The same breakaway Fathers 4 Justice group invaded the roof of Deputy Prime Minister Harriet Harman's house in June.

Mark Harris and Jolly Stanesby scaled Ms Harman's south London property, forcing her to leave several hours into their protest.

The pair claimed Ms Harman, who is also Leader of the House of Commons, had refused to meet with them.

Her office denied their claims.

Mr Harris and Mr Stanesby said they wanted to draw attention to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill.

Fathers 4 Justice also claim that the courts discriminate against fathers.

There were ten protesters in Bristol today, dressed as superheroes, but Ms Primarolo had left the office 20 minutes before they arrived.

"Dawn has been a dogged and supportive champion of equality on this issue and it seems unfair she has been targeted in this way," said Mr Summerskill.

A local resident confronted them, according to 24dash.com.

The man, who did not want to be named, revealed that he had donated sperm to a lesbian couple.

"I came out to confront them because of what I saw as blatant homophobia," he said.

"I don't think they have intentionally come out to rile against homosexual rights or feminism but they are not doing themselves any favours.

"I believe strongly that people in a homosexual relationship should be able to have a family and I wanted to help that to become a reality for my two close friends who I have known for a long time.

"I felt that they would be really good parents with strong morals and that has nothing to do with their gender."

Mr Summerskill said that recent Stonewall research, funded and endorsed by the Home Office, showed that lesbian parents face abuse and intimidation.

It found that one in five gay, lesbian and bisexual people have been a victim of one or more homophobic hate crimes in the last three years and three in four don’t report the incidents to the police, many believing that no action will follow.

A mere one per cent of all victims said that a hate crime or incident resulted in a conviction.

"We know that lesbian parents frequently face homophobic incidents on the street, and this sort of abuse only encourages that," said Mr Summerskill.

Fathers 4 Justice protester Nigel Ace, 40, told 24dash.com:

"We have nothing against lesbians or gay people but we should not put them before fathers in our society and in my view they should not have children."